In her book on menopause, Dr. Northrup explains that a lot of menopausal symptoms are really manifestations of emotional issues that have not been addressed. For example she states that heart palps are your body's way of telling you that you are not following your hearts desires. I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on this theory.

From reading all the posts on this site, I have the impression that a lot of women have tried or are currently in therapy. Does it reduce your symptoms? I also wonder what kind of therapy is most effective in reducing symptoms. Does deep psychotherapy work best or simple talk therapy combined with the development of coping skills.

I have to agree wholeheartedly on this. In my work especially emotional symptoms do manifest as physical issues. Constant sore throats can indicate that you are not speaking up or out for yourself. Nausea.......anxiety obviously.......tight neck or throat....unable to express something...also where we tend to carry anger. I could list these for days. But yes........I fully agree with this.

Therapy is ONE tool that helped get me through the worst of menopause. I used talk therapy with a skilled therapist who helped me develop coping strategies. However, along with the therapy, I dug in deep and began an intense exercise program, altered my diet, cut coffee out of my life, and spent hours with my Power Surge sisters who listened and responded when my fears became irrational. There is no one answer, and each of us finds our way-- and it is hard work for those of us who do not "sail through" peri/menopause-- I am happy to report, I have come through to the other side, and now, 3 years after the hellish nightmare began, I am myself again. In fact, many days I feel better than I ever have in my life. It was absolute hell for 1 year and then a bearable hell for another. I do not take any day forgranted now. Because, I live with the fear, that one day...it will start up again anew-- although I have faith now, that I did not have before that I will not loose myself ever again.

Jonesy

Hi Ms Anxiety,

I'm not sure WHAT all the symptoms really mean, I try to connect the dots and just gave up. But, getting real with yourself is diffenitely part of the process. I spent some very miserable years, going through so much mentally with my life, the perplexing trials and then peri/meno added to the plate.

One of my biggest lessons came by "chance", a friend of mine remarked to me one day ( an older wiser women), she said "A women needs to find what makes her happy and do them". To me it meant not allowing circumstance to dictate, but to MAKE myself stretch out and get happy. Just having that in my head seemed to help.

I agree that talking to someone like a therapist is also very helpful, I did a years worth of that and it was wonderful to learn coping skills and get objective views.

Juliann

Hi there,

Are you asking if symptoms are psychosomatic? In part, all symptoms are, for any illness, pathological disease or not. How much is is the mind and unresolved emotions and how much is the body's response to pain/illness stimuli?

I think it is both. One perpetuates the other. The chinese believe that emotions are stored in the throat(close to what someone else mentioned in this thread). I have wondered sometimes if that is why I have an unexplained goiter(enlarged thyroid) and when I get stressed, it gets tender and "swollen". My thyroid surgeon says it is not psychosomatic. That no amount of emotional trauma could cause such enlargement in such a localised area. I believe a bit of both. I always temper the mind/body relationship with science.

The same could be said for cancer sufferers......I wonder how much my stepmothers past unresolved trauma(her children where kidnapped by their father and she hardly saw them again) caused the genetic shift in those cells to bring on leukemia. I wonder if she had got more emotional help, would it have killed her? I do believe she still would have got it, but so aggressively? We will never know. My current stepmum had breast cancer and she is convinced that she got it due to her abusive ex-husband. I respect and agree with her assessment. Who am I to disagree? Belief is a very personal thing......and instinct with belief can just make things feel like they fit perfectly. I have had times like that myself.

As for therapy, best money I have ever spent through all this hell. My therapist does a bit of psychotherapy(I have past mental health issues) and cognitive behavioral therapy. If you can find a good one, that is willing to read up on your symptoms and understand the chemical nature of peri, you are on the home run. For it is a mixture of nature and nurture. They can help with coping skills, rationalisation, trauma and grief support, relationships and sexual health issues(like lack of libido due to peri), dream interpretation and so on. My T also really helps me with rage, irritation, agitation, fear and sleep issues. She also helps monitor my tranquiliser use.

So a good one is priceless. If you are thinking of going down that road, shop around until you find one that "fits" you.

Take good care babe......and let us know how you go.

Hugs,

Michah

It is very encouraging to hear that everyone thinks that the therapy route has some merit. Especially some one who has come out on the other side of this ordeal.

I've already tried vitamins. I eat mostly organic...no wheat..very little sugar...almost no caff...exercise (I used to do much more when I was feeling better--or maybe I felt better because I did much more). Anyway, after reading Dr. Northrup's book it made me wonder, could some subconscious issue lurking in my mind be causing some of my symptoms or could some subconscious issue cause even more serious health problems now or in the future. Maybe this is my health anxiety rearing it's ugly head. Anyway, maybe the whole therapy thing could be just as good for our overall health as vitamins and nutrition.

Therapy has turned out to be a true life saver for me. In 2005, when my perimenopause first hit, things got so bad I wound up spending a week in a psychiatric hospital with thoughts of suicide. I had always known I had issues of childhood sexual abuse and rape in my past but was putting off any healing efforts until my sons graduated from high school. Well, my hormones decided it was time. Talk therapy, yoga, creative writing, Reiki...all of these healing modalities have helped to save my mind and my life. I've gone 5 months without a period and have had maybe one hot flash in the past year or two. (used to wake up all night with the things.) I truly do believe that perimenopause can be a time of deep healing for women if we are able to take the necessary time for ourselves. Wishing all of us the healing we so deserve...Lynda